Unfazed by eviction threats, urban poor occupy more houses in Bulacan, says KADAMAY

KADAMAY members who occupied idle government housing units in Bulacan will not be intimidated by eviction threats from the National Housing Authority (NHA), the group's chairperson said Friday.

"Despite the threats made by the President and the NHA, the urban poor will not be deterred in exposing the unjust housing policies," KADAMAY chairperson Gloria Arellano said in a news release Friday.

"There is something clearly wrong if there are thousands of vacant and idle homes while the number of homeless continuously increases," she added.

On Friday, the urban poor group led residents to occupy additional homes in Bocaue Hills, a PNP housing project, bringing the total number of occupied housing units in Bulacan to 8,500.

"This only shows that more urban poor Filipinos are rising up to reclaim their housing rights," Arellano said.

According the KADAMAY, occupation of idle housing units is evident in all parts of the country, not only in Bulacan.

Citing NHA report last September, the group said 53,000 housing units, most of them for police personnel, have been left vacant.

“Many PNP housing projects are too far from the offices and jobs of the personnel which is one of the main reasons they are left vacant," Arellano said.
"There is no reason why the housing units should be left to vegetation, dirt and pests. Dahil napakalayo ng mga pabahay, tumatagal ng maraming taon na sila’y nakatiwangwang," she added.

"If the government and NHA are truly intent on providing services for PNP personnel, housing projects should be more accessible."

Moreover, KADAMAY insisted that their occupation of the housing units is neither "illegal" nor can be considered trespassing.

"How can be deemed as trespassers when most of the entire area is vacant? If the housing is not being used, it is the duty of the government to freely re-distribute the houses to those in need. Urban poor Filipinos [are in] dire conditions whose right to housing has been denied time and again,” Arellano said.

The group said they have been pushing for a unified action with shelter agencies for mass housing since last year through crafting two covenants and unity statements. This, however, led to nothing.

KADAMAY also said the occupation of the housing units is a result of the government’s failure to take steps in making sure that the urban poor enjoys their housing rights.

“Unless the NHA is willing to genuinely work for free and mass housing while recognizing the legitimacy of the occupation, there is no need for a comprehensive dialogue. We condemn their fascist steps in announcing the eviction of the Bulacan occupants,” Arellano said. —Erwin Colcol/KBK, GMA News